U.S. patent number 10,224,766 [Application Number 14/729,169] was granted by the patent office on 2019-03-05 for stator with core including divided cores, and electric motor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FANUC CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is FANUC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tatsuya Senoo.
United States Patent |
10,224,766 |
Senoo |
March 5, 2019 |
Stator with core including divided cores, and electric motor
Abstract
Provided is a stator that can easily attach a coil to a tooth
and that can reduce concentration of stress generated in the core
during operation. The stator includes a plurality of divided cores
aligned in a circumferential direction. Each divided core includes
a tooth, and a divided back yoke extending from an end on a
radially outside of the tooth to a first circumferential side. A
radial width of the divided back yoke is smaller than or equal to a
circumferential width of the tooth. A connecting surface is
arranged at an end on a second circumferential side of the divided
yoke, the connecting surface being a plane or a convex surface
extending from a side surface on the second circumferential side of
the tooth to an outer circumferential surface of the divided back
yoke.
Inventors: |
Senoo; Tatsuya (Yamanashi,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FANUC CORPORATION |
Yamanashi |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
FANUC CORPORATION (Yamanashi,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
54391307 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/729,169 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150364954 A1 |
Dec 17, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 12, 2014 [JP] |
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2014-121817 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02K
1/08 (20130101); H02K 1/141 (20130101); H02K
1/148 (20130101); H02K 3/18 (20130101); H02K
1/14 (20130101); Y10T 29/49009 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
H02K
1/14 (20060101); H02K 3/18 (20060101); H02K
1/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;310/216.009,216.008,216.109,216.035,216.015,216.055,216.086 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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8275414 |
|
Oct 1996 |
|
JP |
|
2000139048 |
|
May 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2001128395 |
|
May 2001 |
|
JP |
|
2001218429 |
|
Aug 2001 |
|
JP |
|
2001238376 |
|
Aug 2001 |
|
JP |
|
2003134701 |
|
May 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2004194404 |
|
Jul 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2010115108 |
|
May 2010 |
|
JP |
|
201370607 |
|
Apr 2013 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2001-238376 published Aug. 31, 2001, 12 pgs. cited by applicant
.
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2001-218429 published Aug. 10, 2001, 12 pgs. cited by applicant
.
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2003-134701 published May 9, 2003, 12 pgs. cited by applicant
.
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2013-070607 A, published Apr. 18, 2013, 7 pgs. cited by
applicant .
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2010-115108 A, published May 20, 2010, 7 pgs. cited by
applicant .
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2004-194404 A, published Jul. 8, 2004, 12 pgs. cited by
applicant .
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2001-128395 A, published May 11, 2001, 21 pgs. cited by
applicant .
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 2000-139048 A, published May 16, 2000, 17 pgs. cited by
applicant .
English Abstract and Machine Translation for Japanese Publication
No. 08-275414 A, published Oct. 18, 1996, 8 pgs. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Rojas; Bernard
Assistant Examiner: Singh; Alexander
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stator of an electric motor, comprising: a core including an
annular back yoke, and a plurality of teeth aligned in a
circumferential direction; and a plurality of annular coils wound
around each of the plurality of teeth, each annular coil being
fitted to the tooth in a condition where a center hole of the
annular coil is enlarged by the tooth around which the annular coil
is wound, wherein the core includes a plurality of divided cores
aligned in the circumferential direction, the plurality of divided
cores including a first divided core and a second divided core, the
first divided core and the second divided core being adjacent to
each other, each of the plurality of divided cores includes: the
tooth extending radially inward, the tooth comprising a first side
surface extending between a first radial inner edge and a first
radial outer edge and a second side surface opposite to the first
side surface extending between a second radial inner edge and a
second radial outer edge, the tooth having a circumferential width
defined between the first side surface and the second side surface;
and a divided back yoke, comprising: an outer circumferential
surface terminating in a first circumferential edge on a first
circumferential side and a second circumferential edge on a second
circumferential side, the first side surface of the tooth being on
the first circumferential side, the second circumferential side
being opposite to the first circumferential side, the second
circumferential edge being disposed away from the first side
surface of the tooth; and an inner circumferential surface
terminating in a third circumferential edge on the first
circumferential side and the first radial outer edge on the second
circumferential side, an end surface defined between the first
circumferential edge and the third circumferential edge, the
divided yoke having a radial width defined between the outer
circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface, the
radial width of the divided back yoke being smaller than or equal
to the circumferential width of the tooth; a connecting surface
extending between the second circumferential edge and the second
radial outer edge, the connecting surface being a plane or a convex
surface, the end surface being of a shape complementary to the
connecting surface, the first circumferential edge of the first
divided core contacting the second circumferential edge of the
second divided core, the first circumferential edge of the first
divided core being away from the first side surface of the tooth of
the second divided core on the first circumferential side.
2. The stator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting surface
is a convex curved surface.
3. The stator according to claim 1, wherein a portion having a
shape corresponding to the connecting surface is provided at an end
of the first circumferential side of the divided back yoke.
4. The stator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting surface
does not include: a portion positioned at the second
circumferential side of the side surface of the tooth; and a
portion positioned at radially outside of the outer circumferential
surface of the divided back yoke.
5. The stator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting surface
is formed with a recess recessed inward from the connecting
surface, wherein a projection capable of being fitted to the recess
is formed at the end of the first circumferential side of the
divided back yoke.
6. An electric motor comprising the stator of claim 1.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a stator with a core including divided
cores, and an electric motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stator with a core including a plurality of divided cores divided
in a circumferential direction is known (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Publication No. 2001-218429, Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2001-238376, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2003-134701).
As examples of a method of attaching a coil to the core of the
stator, a method of directly winding a coil around a tooth provided
in the core, and a method of producing an annular coil unit in
advance and fitting the coil unit to a tooth are known. The latter
method is desirable in terms of manufacturing efficiency. In this
case, a stator, which enables the coil unit to be easily attached
to the tooth and which has a structure where a stress concentration
that occurs in the core during the operation of the stator can be
reduced, is desired.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a stator of an electric
motor comprises a core including an annular back yoke, and a
plurality of teeth aligned in a circumferential direction and
extending toward radially inside from the back yoke; and a
plurality of coils wound around each of the plurality of teeth. The
core includes a plurality of divided cores aligned in the
circumferential direction.
Each of the plurality of divided cores includes the tooth, and a
divided back yoke extending from a radially outer end of the tooth
toward a first circumferential side and constituting a part of the
back yoke. A radial width of the divided back yoke is smaller than
or equal to a circumferential width of the tooth. A connecting
surface is provided at an end in a second circumferential side of
the divided yoke, wherein the second circumferential side is
opposite to the first circumferential side. The connecting surface
is a plane or a convex surface extending from a side surface of the
second circumferential side of the tooth to an outer
circumferential surface of the divided back yoke.
The connecting surface may be a convex curved surface. A portion
having a shape corresponding to the connecting surface may be
provided at an end in the first circumferential side of the divided
back yoke. The connecting surface may do not include a portion
positioned at the second circumferential side of the side surface
of the tooth, and a portion positioned at radially outside of the
outer circumferential surface of the divided back yoke.
The connecting surface may be formed with a recess recessed inward
from the connecting surface. A projection capable of being fitted
to the recess may be formed at the end in the first circumferential
side of the divided back yoke. According to another aspect of the
invention, an electric motor comprises the stator described
above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In addition to the above-described object of the invention other
objects, characteristics, and advantages will become apparent by
describing the following preferred embodiments with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an outer appearance view of a stator according to an
embodiment of the invention seen from an axial direction;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the divided core shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing the
stator, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the divided
back yoke of the divided core is inserted into the coil;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the coil is
fitted to the tooth of the divided core;
FIG. 6 is an outer appearance view of a stator according to another
embodiment of the invention seen from the axial direction;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the divided core shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the divided core shown in FIG. 7;
and
FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a method of assembling the stator
shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Hereinafter, the invention will be described in more detail based
on the drawings. First, referring to FIG. 1, a stator 10 according
to an embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that, in
the following description, the axial direction indicates a
direction along a center axis O of the stator 10. Further, the
radial direction indicates a direction of a radius of a circle
centered about the center axis O. Further, a circumferential
direction indicates a circumferential direction of a circle
centered about the center axis O.
The stator 10 constitutes an electric motor (not shown) together
with a rotator (not shown) rotatably arranged at radially inside of
the stator 10. The stator 10 includes a core 12 and a plurality of
coils 14. The core 12 includes a plurality of divided cores 20
aligned in the circumferential direction. In the present
embodiment, the core 12 includes a total of twelve divided cores
20.
Next, referring to FIG. 2, the divided core 20 will be described.
Note that, a direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2 indicates
a direction toward radially outside (outside in the radial
direction), while a direction indicated by the arrow B indicates a
direction toward the first circumferential side (direction). The
divided core 20 includes a tooth 22 extending in the radial
direction, and a divided back yoke 24 extending from a radially
outer end of the teeth 22 toward the first circumferential
side.
The tooth 22 has a side surface 26 of the first circumferential
side, and a side surface 28 of the second circumferential side
opposite to the first circumferential side. The side surface 26 is
a plane extending in the radial direction from a radially inner
edge 30 to a radially outer edge 32. Similarly, the side surface 28
is a plane extending in the radial direction from a radially inner
edge 34 to a radially outer edge 36. A wedge 38 projecting out from
the tooth 22 toward both sides in the circumferential direction is
formed at a radially inner end of the tooth 22.
The divided back yoke 24 is an arcuate member having an inner
circumferential surface 42 and an outer circumferential surface 48.
The inner circumferential surface 42 is an arcuate surface
extending in the circumferential direction from the edge 32 to an
edge 40 of the first circumferential side. On the other hand, the
outer circumferential surface 48 is an arcuate surface extending in
the circumferential direction from an edge 44 of the second
circumferential side to an edge 46 of the first circumferential
side.
In the present embodiment, a radial width 50 (corresponding to
shortest distance between inner circumferential surface 42 and
outer circumferential surface 48) of the divided back yoke 24 is
set to be smaller than or equal to a circumferential width 52
(corresponding to shortest distance between the side surfaces 26
and 28) of the tooth 22.
A connecting surface 54, which extends from the side surface 28 of
the tooth 22 to the outer circumferential surface 48 of the divided
back yoke 24, is formed at the end in the second circumferential
side of the divided back yoke 24. More specifically, the connecting
surface 54 is a convex curved surface extending from the radially
outer edge 36 of the side surface 28 to the edge 44 of the second
circumferential side of the outer circumferential surface 48 in a
curved manner so as to bulge out toward a side opposite to the edge
32. The connecting surface 54 may be an arcuate surface having a
predefined curvature radius, or may be configured by a curved
surface in which a plurality of curved surfaces having different
curvature radii from each other are continuously connected.
On the other hand, a concave curved surface 56 having a shape which
corresponds to the connecting surface 54 is formed at the end in
the first circumferential side of the divided back yoke 24. The
concave curved surface 56 has a shape complementary to the
connecting surface 54, and extends from the edge 40 to the edge 46
in a curved manner so as to be recessed toward the inside of the
divided back yoke 24.
Referring to FIG. 1 again, a total of twelve divided cores 20 are
aligned in the circumferential direction so as to constitute the
core 12. In this state, the connecting surface 54 of one divided
core 20 contacts the concave curved surface 56 of the other divided
core 20 which adjoins the one divided core 20 in the second
circumferential side.
The two divided cores 20 adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction are welded between the connecting surface
54 and the concave curved surface 56 so as to be fixed to each
other. As shown in FIG. 1, the divided cores 20 are fixed to each
other so as to continuously align in the circumferential direction,
whereby an annular back yoke 58 of the core 12 is formed by the
annularly aligning divided back yokes 24. Further, the tooth 22
arranged in each of the divided cores 20 extends toward radially
inside from the back yoke 58 of the core 12, whereby a plurality of
teeth 22 are arranged so as to align in the circumferential
direction at substantially equal intervals.
Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a method of manufacturing the
stator 10 will be described. At step S1, a user manufactures the
coil 14 in the form of one coil unit in advance. For example, the
user winds a conductive wire into an annular shape by an automatic
coil winding machine etc. so as to automatically manufacture the
coil 14 in the form of an annular coil unit.
Thus manufactured coil 14 has a center hole 62 having a width 64.
The width 64 is set to be greater than the width 50 of the divided
back yoke 24 and smaller than the circumferential width of the
wedge 38.
At step S2, the user manufactures the divided cores 20 described
above. For example, the user manufactures the divided cores 20 by
press work, etc. At step S3, the user fits the coil 14 to the
divided back yoke 24. Specifically, the user inserts the divided
back yoke 24 into the center hole 62 of the coil 14, as a result of
which the coil 14 is fitted to the divided back yoke 24, as shown
in FIG. 4.
At step S4, the user moves the coil 14 along the connecting surface
54 so as to fit the coil 14 to the tooth 22. Specifically, the user
moves the coil 14 toward the tooth 22 from the position shown in
FIG. 4 so as to turn the coil 14 in a counterclockwise direction
when seen from the upper side of FIG. 4.
As described above, the connecting surface 54 is configured by a
convex curved surface. According to this configuration, the user
can smoothly turn the coil 14 in the counterclockwise direction,
whereby can smoothly move the coil 14 along the connecting surface
54 so as to fit the coil 14 to the tooth 22. As a result, an
assembly 65 of the divided core 20 and the coil 14 shown in FIG. 5
is manufactured.
Further, as described above, the width 50 of the divided back yoke
24 is set to be smaller than or equal to the width 52 of the tooth
22, and the width 64 of the center hole 62 of the coil 14 is set to
be greater than the width 50 of the divided back yoke 24 and
smaller than the circumferential width of the wedge 38.
In this case, when the width 64 of the center hole 62 of the coil
14 is set to be smaller than the width 52 of the tooth 22, the
diameter of the center hole 62 of the coil 16 gradually enlarges as
the user moves the coil 14 along the connecting surface 54, and the
coil 14 is fitted to the tooth 22 consequently. According to this
configuration, the user can smoothly and easily fit the coil 14 to
the tooth 22 having a width greater than the center hole 62.
At step S5, the user couples the assemblies 65 manufactured at step
S4 to each other so as to be aligned in the circumferential
direction. As an example, the user couples the plurality of divided
cores 20 to each other by contacting and welding the concave curved
surface 56 of one divided core 20 and the connecting surface 54 of
the other divided core 20. As a result, the stator 10 shown in FIG.
1 is manufactured.
As another example, the user may fix the plurality of divided cores
20 to each other by aligning the plurality of divided cores 20 in
the circumferential direction as illustrates in FIG. 1, and
press-fitting a fixation ring (not shown) so as to surround the
outer circumferential surfaces 48 of the divided cores 20 from the
radially outside.
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to manufacture
the coil 14 in the form of a coil unit in advance, and smoothly fit
it to the tooth 22 from the divided back yoke 24 of the divided
core 20. Due to this, it is possible to automatize the manufacture
of the coil 14 and easily install the coil 14 to the tooth 22,
whereby the manufacturing efficiency of the stator 10 can be
improved.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the connecting
surface 54 is configured by a convex curved surface smoothly and
continuously extending from the edge 36 of the side surface 28 to
the edge 44 of the outer circumferential surface 48. Due to this
configuration, it is possible to prevent stress concentration from
occurring at the connecting surface 54, whereby the strength of the
core 12 during the operation of the stator 10 can be enhanced.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the concave
curved surface 56 having a shape corresponding to the connecting
surface 54 is provided at the end in the first circumferential side
of the divided back yoke 24. Due to this configuration, the
connecting surface 54 of one divided core 20 and the concave curved
surface 56 of the other divided core 20 adjoining to the one
divided core 20 from the second circumferential side can be tightly
fitted and coupled to each other, when assembling the stator 10.
Therefore, it is possible to enhance the strength of the core 12
during the operation thereof.
Note that, various forms of connecting surfaces can be applied to
the divided core 20, instead of the above connecting surface 54.
Such embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. For
example, the divided core 20 may have a connecting surface 66 which
is a plane extending from the edge 36 of the side surface 28 to the
edge 44 of the outer circumferential surface 48. Alternatively, the
divided core 20 may include a connecting surface 68 which is a
convex curved surface extending in a curved manner so as to bulge
out more outwardly than the above connecting surface 54.
The connecting surfaces 54, 66, and 68 may be configured so as not
to include a portion positioned at the second circumferential side
of the side surface 28 of the tooth 22, and a portion positioned at
the radially outside of the outer circumferential surface 48 of the
divided back yoke 24, in order to facilitate the work for fitting
the coil 14 to the tooth 22 at step S4.
In other words, the connecting surfaces 54, 66, and 68 are
configured to extend within a region 70 surrounded by a virtual
plane extending from the edge 36 to the edge 44 (i.e., connecting
surface 66), a virtual extended surface 28' defined by the side
surface 28 being extended to radially outside, and a virtual
extended surface 48' defined by the outer circumferential surface
48 being extended to the second circumferential side at the same
curvature.
Next, referring to FIG. 6A, a stator 80 according to another
embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that, the same
reference numerals will be assigned to elements similar to the
above-mentioned embodiments, and the detailed description thereof
will be omitted. The stator 80 includes a core 82 and the plurality
of coils 14. The core 82 includes a total of twelve divided cores
90 aligned in the circumferential direction.
Next, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the divided core 90 will be
described. Note that, a direction indicated by the arrow A in FIGS.
7 and 8 indicates a direction toward radially outside, while a
direction indicated by the arrow B indicates a direction toward the
first circumferential side (direction). The divided core 90
includes the tooth 22, and a divided back yoke 92 extending from a
radially outer end of the tooth 22 toward the first circumferential
side.
The divided back yoke 92 is an arcuate member having an inner
circumferential surface 94 and an outer circumferential surface 96.
The inner circumferential surface 94 is an arcuate surface
extending in the circumferential direction from the edge 32 to an
edge 98 in the first circumferential side. The outer
circumferential surface 96 is an arcuate surface extending in the
circumferential direction from an edge 100 in the second
circumferential side to an edge 102 in the first circumferential
side. Similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, a radial width 104
of the divided back yoke 92 is set to be smaller than or equal to
the circumferential width 52 of the tooth 22.
A connecting surface 106, which extends from the edge 36 of the
side surface 28 of the tooth 22 to the edge 100 of the outer
circumferential surface 96 of the divided back yoke 92, is formed
at the end in the second circumferential side of the divided back
yoke 92. The connecting surface 106 is a convex curved surface
extending in a curved manner to bulge out to the side opposite to
the edge 32.
In the present embodiment, the connecting surface 106 is formed
with a recess 108 recessed inward from the connecting surface 106.
The recess 108 is formed to extend through the divided core 90 in
the axial direction. Due to the recess 108, the connecting surface
106 is divided into a first connecting surface 106a and a second
connecting surface 106b.
On the other hand, a concave curved surface 110 having a shape
corresponding to the connecting surface 106 is provided at the end
in the first circumferential side of the divided back yoke 92. The
concave curved surface 110 has a shape complementary to the
connecting surface 106, and extends in a curved manner so as to be
recessed toward the inside of the divided back yoke 92.
The concave curved surface 110 is formed with a projection 112
projecting out from the concave curved surface 110. The projection
112 has a shape capable of being fitted into the recess 108. Due to
the projection 112, the concave curved surface 110 is divided into
a first concave curved surface 110a and a second concave curved
surface 110b. More specifically, the first concave curved surface
110a has a shape complementary to the first connecting surface
106a, while the second concave curved surface 110b has a shape
complementary to the second connecting surface 106b.
Referencing FIG. 6 again, the divided cores 90 are aligned in the
circumferential direction so as to constitute the core 82. In this
state, the projection 112 of one divided core 90 is fitted into the
recess 108 of the other divided core 90 which adjoins the one
divided core 90 from the first circumferential side.
Further, the first connecting surface 106a and the second
connecting surface 106b of one divided core 90 respectively contact
the first concave curved surface 110a and the second concave curved
surface 110b of the other divided core 90 adjacent on the second
circumferential side. Thus, in the present embodiment, the divided
cores 90 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction
are coupled to each other by the engagement between the projection
112 and the recess 108.
Next, referring to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 6 to 9, a method of
manufacturing the stator 80 will be described. Note that, Step S1
to step S4 are similar to those in the method of manufacturing the
stator 10 described above, and therefore the detailed description
thereof will be omitted. At step S5, the user couples the
assemblies 114 (FIG. 9), each of which includes the divided core 90
and the coil 14, and which was assembled at step S4, to each other
so as to align in the circumferential direction.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the user positions the projection
112 of the divided core 90 of one assembly 114 relative to the
recess 108 of the divided core 90 of the other assembly body 114,
and moves the one assembly body 114 toward the other assembly body
114 as indicated by the arrow C so as to press-fit the projection
112 into the recess 108.
Whereby, the projection 112 and the recess 108 engage each other so
that the assembly bodies 114 are coupled to each other. Thus, the
plurality of assemblies 114 are coupled to each other so as to
continuously align in the circumferential direction, whereby the
stator 80 shown in FIG. 6 is manufactured. According to the present
embodiment, the assemblies 114 can be coupled to each other by
simply press-fitting the projection 112 into the recess 108.
Therefore, it is possible to make the assembly work easier and also
enhance the coupling strength of the core 82.
In the above embodiment, a case where the connecting surface is
configured by the concave curved surface or the plane has been
described. However, the invention is not limited to this. The
connecting surface may be configured by a convex surface which has
a polygonal shape constituted by a plurality of planes connected to
each other, or which has a polygonal shape constituted by a
plurality of planes connected to each other wherein the corners of
such polygonal convex surface is rounded, etc.
The invention has been described through the embodiments of the
invention, but the above-described embodiments preferably do not
limit the invention related to the Claims. Furthermore, the
technical scope of the invention may also include a mode of
combining the characteristics described in the embodiments of the
invention. However, all the combinations of the characteristics may
not be essential in the means for solving the problem of the
invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art may recognize that
the above-described embodiments may be variously modified or
improved.
Furthermore, the executing order of each process of the operation,
procedure, step, process flow, stage, and the like in the device,
system, program, and method described in the Claims, specification,
and drawings may not be clearly described as "before", "prior to",
and the like in particular, and may be realized in an arbitrary
order unless the output of the previous process is use in the
subsequent process. With respect to the operation flow in the
Claims, specification, and drawings, the description may be made
using "first", "next", "then" and the like for the sake of
convenience of explanation, but this may not mean that the
operation flow is to be performed in such order.
* * * * *